Unplanned Cooking

The writer of the Unplanned Cooking blog, Jennifer Jeanne Patterson, is the author of “52 Fights: A Newlywed’s Confession” (Penguin/Berkley Trade, June 2005). She was also a creative consultant on the book’s ABC/Touchstone Television pilot. But these days, that’s like another lifetime. Now she is a full-time mom to two boys and a little girl, all under the age of 5. Last August, she was shocked by a huge credit card bill – a bill not for purses or clothing or great shoes, but groceries. Yet even with the astronomical food bill, the cupboards and fridge were bare. So she made a vow to drastically reign in her food bill. This meant she had to change her perspective not only on grocery shopping, but on food itself.

After receiving a shocking credit card bill, you decided that you would spend no more than $100 per week on groceries, which really requires cutting out processed foods and learning how to truly cook. What made you decide to start blogging about it?

I’ve always loved to write, but with three kids find it hard to carve out time to do it. What I like about blogging is it’s immediate; it connects you to a community. And what I like blogging about food is that it forces me to stay disciplined and cook, plus become informed about food politics.

If you were to narrow it down to one answer, what is the most important thing you’ve learned about cooking that you would like readers to know?

Cooking teaches you what you’re putting in your body – and your kids’ bodies. Using real ingredients has changed how I look at food. Now I read labels. Did you know most syrup is just corn syrup? We use natural ingredients like butter on our pancakes now.

What is your biggest challenge for developing new content for your blog?

My challenge isn’t so much content but time. I find there is inspiration everywhere, whether I find it on other blogs or traditional media outlets. But time – that’s a hard one!

What do you hope readers take away from reading the Unplanned Cooking blog?

What’s at stake. As our children become more removed from their food sources, we need to teach them what real food is. And that’s difficult to do if you’re not cooking, or teaching them how to cook.

What other blogs do you enjoy reading and why? Who are your favorite local Twin Cities bloggers?

I love The Kitchen Pantry Scientist as her projects entertain my kids on rainy days. I also love Megan at Sprout.mn. She’s got a great writing voice, and her work connects me to the green community. And also Mom Culture helps me stay informed when I don’t have as much time to read as I’d like. I did have fun shooting a video with Meg from Sprout.mn and Lindsay DiLorenzo from RedStamp.com that was featured on Dr. Phil.

You’re an Ithica, New York, native living here in the Midwest. What do you love the most about living in the Twin Cities?

I love the people here and the schools. Really, there’s nothing I don’t like – except maybe the long winters, but we had those in upstate New York, too.

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